The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-18
WASHINGTON AS HE WAS.
What the Father of his Country Said
of New England.

OF New England.
In 1897 John Bernard, an English actor
came to this country, and remained until
1919. After his retirement from the stage he
wrote book called "Retrospections of
America" This book has just been publish
ed in America. most interesting feature
is a description of Bernards meeting with
Washington.
Mr. Bernard was returning from a visit to
friends ON the banks Of the Potomac, when.
riding slowly along, he saw coming toward
him an old-fashioned chaise The driver
was vainly trying to hasten his Indifferent
beast, when suddenly after sharp lash from
the drivers whip the horse gave a Jump,
reared on its hind legs, and swerving to one
side overturned the coach and flung ont
young woman, its only occupant besides the
driver. Just then another horseman came
up; the two dismounted, and while the new
conner supported the insensible young
woman, Bernard fetched water in his hat
from spring near by. The woman was
soon restored and found unhurt, and the two
.horsemen helped the travellers to right them
selves, but in order to do so they were obliged
TO unload the coach of a vast amount of lug
gage, and then with great exertions pull the
heavy vehicle into an upright position The
load was soon replaced and the conveyance
started on its way. Then the two men in
turn helped each other brush up. Mr. Ber-
ard soon felt sure that he had seen the stran-
ger, but couldn't remember when or where.
But the other suddenly stepped forward and,
IN very cordial manner, called Mr.. Bernard
by name, put out bis hand, and said he had
seen MN act lew months previous and had
heard much of him from several of his
friends, especially from, Charles Carroll. He
then invited the actor to rest at his house a
lew hours, after the laborious task they had
snaredIfor 1t was hot July day. He point
ed to house which he said was not mile
distant and would be short ride. Mr. Ber-
nard was astounded to perceive that his COM
panlon was pointing out Mount Vernon,
winch he had spent two hours looking at
the day before. And this, then, was WASH
home. Mrs. Washington was indisposed but
the general ordered refreshments in the
parlor. This is John Demands account of
his 81. talk with and his impressions of George
Washington.
Though have ventured to Offer some re-
marks on his less-known CONTEMPORARIES, |
feel 1t would be an impertinence to say a
WORD on the public merits of a man whose
character has been burning as q beacon to
Europe till his qualities are as we'll known as
the names and dates of his triumphs. Nv
retrospect of him is purely social one, and
much 90 regret for the interest of these pa
ges, that 1t is confined to single interview,
The general impression l received from his
appearance fully correspondent with the de-
Scrlptlon OF him by the Marquis de Chatel-
luz, VINO visited America at the close of the
war, The great characteristic of Washing
ton. says ne, rs the perfect union which
;eea 70 snbslst between the moral and phys
zeal qualities; so that the selection of one
would enable you to judge of all the rest III
you are presented with medals of Traian or
Cesar, the features will lead you to Inquire
the proportions of their persons; but if you
should discover in q heap of ruins the leg or
arm of an antique Apollo, you would not be
curious about the other parts, but content
yourself with the assurance that they were
all comfortable to those of god Though
IA years has elapsed since this was written.
could perceive that it was far from being
tne language OF mere enthusiasm. Whether
you surveyed his face, open yet well-defined,
dignlhed but not arrogant, thoughtful but
Denlgn; his frame, towering and muscular
put alert from its good proportions-every
feature suggested resemblance to the spirit
II encased, and showed simplicity in alliance
with the sublime. The impression, there
lore was that of most perfect whole: and
through the effect of proportion is said to be
70 teaa i e the idea OF magnitude. you could
something sacred as well as wonderfuI--a
man fashioned, by the hand of heaven, with
every requisite to achieve great work.
mus feeling OF awe and yeneration stole
over me. o
In conversation his face had not much va
rlety OF expression; look of thoughtfulness
was given by the compression of the mouth
and the indentatlon of the brow Suggesting
an habitual conflict with and mastery over
dain a sympathy with triyialities as to be in
capable OF denoting them. Nor had his
voice, so far as could discover in our Quiet
tax much change, or richness of information,
put ne always spoke with earnestness, and
MS eyes glorious conductors of the light
Within burned with a steady fire which no
one could mistake for mere affability; they
were one grand expression of the we'll
known line, Il am a man, and interested in
an ~ tnat concerns ono; humanity" In our hour
every topic that brought before him with |
even current OF good sense, if he embellshed |
IL with little wit or verbal elegance. He |
spoke like man who had felt as much as he |
had reilected, and reflected more than he had |
spoken; like one who had looked upon soci- |
ETY. rather in the mass than in detail: and |
VINO regarded the happiness Of America but |
as the nrst link in a series of universal vic |
tories; for his full faith in the power of those
results q civil liberty which he saw all |
around him led him tolforesee that il would. |
ere long prevail in other countries, and that |
the social millennium of Europe would usher |
In the political. When mentioned to him
!no ulierence perceived between the inhab- |
states he remarked
esteem those people greatly: they are
the stamina of the Union and its greatest |
peneiactors. They are continually spreading
themselves, too, to settle and enlighten less
favored quarters. DR.. Franklin Is a New
Englander."
when l remarked that; his observations
were hattering to my country, he replied with |
great good humor:-
Yes, yes; Mr.. Bernard. but L. consider
your country the cradle of the free principles |
not their armchair. Liberty in England is |
sort OF idol: people are bred up in the be- !
Lief and love Of 1t but see little of its doings. |
They walk about freely but then it is be- |
tween high walls; and the error of its
government was in supposing that after a |
portion Of their subjects had crossed the sea |
20 live upon a common, they would permit |
heir friends at home to build up these walls
about them"
A black coming in at this moment, with a
ug of spring water, could not reprcss a
mile, which the general at once interpreted.
ms may seem contradiction" he con-
lnued, but think you must perceive it is
lelther crime nor an absurdity. When we
profess, as our fundament tai principle, that
liberty is the inalienable right of every man
We DO not include madmen or idiots; liberty
\ their hands would become scourge. Till
he mind of the slave has been educated to
perceive what are the obligations Of a state
4 freedom, and not cOnfound mans with a
rute's, the gift would insure its abuse We
night as well be asked to pull down our old
warehouses before trade has increased to de-
nand enlarged new ones.
Both houses and slaves are bequeathed us by
europeans, and time alone can change them
n event, sir, which you may believe me, no
nan desires more heartily than / do. Not
my 40 pray for it, ON the score Of human
n but can clearly foresee that moth
ny !. w the roofing out Of slavery can perpe-
atIng u In common bond of principle"
now referred to the pleasant hours | |
ilSd passed in Philadelphia, and my agree
aIa suaPIlse az hnding there so many men of
Il am glad to hear you. Sir who are nm